Innovation Practice (ENGM90017)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 25On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 1 (Early-Start)
Dr Peter Cebon
Semester 2 (Early-Start)
Dr Peter Cebon
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 (Early-Start) Semester 2 (Early-Start) |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject provides a unique opportunity for experienced professionals to develop and practice the management, coaching and leadership skills required to guide innovation projects and take the next step in their careers. Over the semester, participants learn about strategic and operational considerations in generating innovative products and services. They also develop the leadership skills to guide teams that are innovating.
Two broad domains – innovation and leadership for innovation -- are delivered together as this subject, Innovation Practice.
In terms of innovation management, students will learn and facilitate the application of a human-centred design approach to an innovation project. Along with the team you mentor, you will refine a project brief, design research, conduct interviews, generate insights, create a problem statement, generate proposals that respond to that problem statement and then, select, refine, hopefully test, and finally pitch a proposal. Because you will be responsible for ensuring that the team delivers a good outcome, you will find that you need to develop a solid understanding of the human-centred innovation process.
In terms of leadership, you will be in a unique position to learn how to become a great leader. Your team is likely to be ethnically and professionally very diverse. The project tasks will be well outside the prior experience of the members. Furthermore, we will not allow you to “manage” the team. That is, we will not allow you to tell them what to do. You may only use leadership behaviours such as facilitation, coaching, teaching, and so forth. However, we will give you instruction and support to create a safe environment in which you can learn. Also, by writing a weekly reflection and giving feedback to a peer on their weekly reflection, you will learn mindfully and thoughtfully about yourself as a leader.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon completion of this subject, students will have an introductory ability to:
- Design and execute an innovation project that leads to a product or service that meets user needs and integrates with the strategy of the innovating organisation.
- Coach and mentor a culturally and professionally diverse team,
- Implement an ambiguous, multi-stakeholder project,
- Foster greater self-awareness and build deeper self-understanding,
- Increase their ability to foster strong professional networks.
Generic skills
- Project design
- Designing and conducting interviews
- Data analysis and the extraction of insights from data
- Translation of insights into an innovation objective
- Ideation, along with search for lead users and other sources of innovative solutions
- Integration of ideas with corporate strategy
- Development of a value proposition and business model
- Pitching proposals and presentation skills
- Creating a safe environment as a leader or manager
- Interpersonal skills such as deep listening, facilitation, coaching, conflict management, feedback and communicating in diverse and ambiguous environments
- Project planning for innovation
- Mind-mapping, brainstorming and other synthesis techniques
- Change management in leadership in innovation contexts
- Self-reflection and self-analysis
- Build professional networks in their chosen field.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Professional or educational experience relevant to the project the student is mentoring.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
10 x Reflective writing submissions (750 words each)
| From Week 2 to Week 11 | 33% |
10 x Feedback to peers on their reflective writing (250 words each)
| From Week 2 to Week 11 | 17% |
1 x Essay on innovation thinking in the leadership of diverse teams and/or ambiguous project management due Week 15
| During the examination period | 40% |
Attendance and Participation Hurdle requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of lectures and workshops. | Throughout the semester | 10% |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 1 (Early-Start)
Principal coordinator Peter Cebon Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 16 hours of workshops held prior to the beginning of semester, 4.5 hour weekly lectures x 12 weeks, 2 x 3 hour workshops during semester. Total time commitment 400 hours Teaching period 17 February 2025 to 1 June 2025 Last self-enrol date 28 February 2025 Census date 31 March 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 9 May 2025 Assessment period ends 27 June 2025 Semester 1 (Early-Start) contact information
Dr Peter Cebon
- Semester 2 (Early-Start)
Principal coordinator Peter Cebon Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 16 hours of workshops held prior to the beginning of semester, 4.5 hour weekly lectures x 12 weeks, 2 x 3 hour workshops during semester. Total time commitment 400 hours Teaching period 14 July 2025 to 26 October 2025 Last self-enrol date 25 July 2025 Census date 1 September 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 26 September 2025 Assessment period ends 21 November 2025 Semester 2 (Early-Start) contact information
Dr Peter Cebon
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Subject notes
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Professional Certificate in Innovation Practice
Last updated: 4 March 2025